How to Make a DIY Wasp Trap

Instructions

1. Mark Where You Need to Cut

   Use a permanent marker to draw a line around the neck of the bottle, just below the taper. To keep the line straight, you can tie a string or put a large rubber band around the bottle as a guide, then mark the line with your marker.

2. Cut the Top Off the Bottle

   Use a knife, box cutter, or a sharp pair of scissors to cut the top off of the bottle at the line you made. Take care while doing this step.

3. Bait the Trap

   Bait the trap by putting an enticing food source into the bottom of the bottle.

   Different baits work at different times of the year. In the spring and early summer, wasps are looking for sources of protein. In the late summer and early fall, they are seeking sweets.

   Place a piece of lunch meat or a small hunk of hamburger inside your trap in the spring. Use a few inches of sugar water, water with jam, soda, fruit juice or another sweet liquid in the summer and fall months. Adding honey will attract honeybees, so it's important not to use this as a sweet bait. Add a bit of vinegar to the mix to keep bees out of your trap. You can also add Dawn dish soap to the mixture to help prevent wasps from getting back out.

   To complete your trap, unscrew and remove the cap of the bottle. Then, flip the top part of the bottle upside down, and tuck it into the bottom portion of the bottle and it's ready to use.

4. Set the Trap

   Place your trap (or traps) outdoors in areas where you see wasp activity or want to prevent wasp activity. If you're trying to keep wasps away from your picnic, set up a bottle a short distance from the table, so they'll hopefully be attracted to the trap, instead of your food.

5. Hang the Trap

   If you want to hang your wasp trap in a tree or on a structure, use a hole punch to make two holes across from each other at the top of the trap.

   Make sure that you punch through both the top and bottom portion of the bottle. Then, thread a piece of wire or string through the holes to serve as the handle for hanging.

   How a Homemade Wasp Trap Works

   Wasps are attracted to the scent of the bait and fly into the bottle opening to get to it. Once inside the bottle, they crawl down through the narrow opening, can't figure out how to get back through it and eventually die, drowning in the liquid if it is present.

   DIY Wasp Trap Tips

   • Check for any live wasps anytime you perform maintenance and cleaning on the trap.
   • Remove dead wasps from the trap regularly.
   • Rebait the bottle at least once a week so that you continue to attract wasps.
   • Always exercise care when dealing with wasps, and avoid contact if you're allergic.
   • Put the wasp trap near trees and shrubs or near the house to trap hornets vs. wasps, though keep in mind that hornets are actually a type of wasps.
   FAQ

   • What is the best bait for wasp traps?

     Sugary substances are best, including sugar water, water with jam, soda, fruit juice, and other sweet liquids. But don't try to use honey — that will attract bees instead.

   • Do wasps like apple cider vinegar?

     Wasps hate the smell of vinegar, but a little bit of apple cider vinegar mixed with sugary liquid and dawn soap will create a sickly sweet smell that will draw them in.

   • Does killing a wasp attract other wasps?

     When a wasp is killed, it releases pheromones that can attract other wasps. This is why it's beneficial to trap them instead.